The Demon's Lover

Ashlynn

I hadn't been down in that basement long. But the entire time I'd been there, it gave me time to think. Why was I here? I thought this was for a job, not a... whatever that was. It also left me realizing just how built that man truly was. Up close and personal, he was gorgeous. More than he'd been when I'd stepped into that study behind his butler. I could almost see myself pressed against him, his hands on my skin. The spot on my chin where he'd gripped me, forcing me to look at him was a little tingly as well. I could only be thankful he hadn't kissed me. I probably would have melted right then.

Stop it! I had to snap myself out of those thoughts somehow. I had to remind myself of everything Daniel had told me, that the Demon Lords would say or do literally anything just to get their hands on a soul. But, then again, I knew the Angels weren't any better. I spent what seemed like hours, hanging there from the wall, debating silently which "faction" was worse when I finally heard the door at the top of the stairs open. And I braced myself. It might have been Callum, even though he'd told me he would send a woman to help me change clothes.

It wasn't him, though. Instead, it was a taller woman with crimson hair and green eyes. She was pale, curvy, everything I wished I could have been. "Did Callum warn you already? If not, I'll only do it once. I don't like repeating myself." She didn't have that same London accent as the butler, or even the Irish brogue that Callum had. She actually had a bit of a Southern drawl. Like me. That was... unnerving to say the least. I simply nodded to show her that he had warned me already. "Good," she said with the most charming smile I'd ever seen. Putting two and two together, I figured she was Lilith. That... probably wouldn't bode well for me, and I was willing to bet she was sleeping with Callum.

Wait. Why did I care? It wasn't like I was actually going to be with this guy. Or was I? It was starting to sound like a good idea, honestly. "Come on, darlin," the redhead purred. "Let's get you out of those clothes and into something more comfortable." She unclasped the cuffs that held me up, keeping her hands on my sides to help keep me upright. I glanced around in that moment, realizing that, even with the cuffs hooked to the wall like some medieval torture chamber, the rest of the basement was set up like a suite. Or a studio apartment. And, well, it was definitely the nicest one I'd ever seen. I glanced towards the bed, noticing the neatly folded pile of clothes there. That was definitely disturbing. They'd been in my flat. Those clothes were the kind of thing I'd wear, but I had no way of knowing if they were from my dresser or new.

I found myself smiling a little, realizing that Callum couldn't be that bad. I mean, he was taking my preferences into consideration when it came to clothing. While I was lost in thought, I felt something close around my ankle. It was soft, but I could tell that was just a lining of some sort. I let my gaze travel to my ankle, seeing another cuff clasped there. It was connected to a steel chain, one that was a lot longer than I would have thought it would be. "Lord Callum thought it would be rude to just leave you hanging over there all the time," Lilith explained. "So, you have free reign of the basement." At least it wasn't dark and dank like most. "The entire area is set up like an apartment," she continued. "You've got your bedroom, fully functioning bathroom, even a kitchen. Let Alphonse know the kind of things you like to eat, and he'll go shopping for you. Meanwhile, I'll be in charge of any shower products or clothes." She started to walk towards the stairs, but turned back to face me just before climbing the stairs. "Callum isn't that bad, Ashlynn," she said softly. "He just doesn't know how to handle how you make him feel. I think it's kind of cute."

Once she left, I changed into the soft gray sweatpants and black tank. It did feel nice to get out of those heels, and it gave me a chance to get into bed and curl my knees up to my chest. It gave me time to think. I glanced down at the cuff clasped around my ankle, noting that it was lined in soft velvet to keep it from chafing or cutting into my skin. "He's definitely not as bad as everyone says Demons are," I muttered to no one in particular.

"I'm glad you think so, lass." That deep, rumbling Irish brogue had my head snapping up. And I let out a squeak. It wasn't really a squeal, but it wasn't really a gasp either. He moved to my side quickly, placing a hand on my knee. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." How could someone that big be so f*****g gentle? "You were just so busy inspecting everything, you didn't hear me come down."

I realized he was right. He must have come down to the basement just as Lilith was on her way up. "It's my fault. I wasn't paying attention." I sort of wiggled my ankle, trying to get used to the feel of the cuff there. He looked down at it, a frown touching his face. I could only imagine what he'd look like if he really smiled. "I'm sorry about the accommodations, lovely," he sighed. "I just don't want you running off. I'll admit this is the first time I've been so damned drawn to someone. I'm sort of just learning as I go."

"I'm not angry," I argued. "I'm just... I want to understand, Callum. I want to know why you want me to stay away from the Angels so badly. I get that they can be a bunch of d***s, I do. But that's not the whole reason and I know it."

"Their track record with mortals isn't the greatest. Haven't you heard of Mary? Eve?"

"I've heard both. And Eve was the one that f****d up. She drug Adam with her." I was never super religious, but I knew the basics. My parents were pretty devout most of my childhood. So I'd been to Sunday School enough to have heard the stories.

"That's not the whole story. Eve just thought for herself. Where's the crime there? The very thing humans were created for, and she got punished for using it? Don't you think that's hypocritical." f**k. He was right. "The Angels aren't out to help you, lass. They'll eventually turn you into a martyr."

"And you? What are you going to turn me into?"

"I won't really turn you into anything. You're already a goddess to me, Ashlynn. You're smart, beautiful, your smile gives me bloody chills. And I couldn't hurt you even if I wanted to. You mean too much. I want you to be comfortable here, love. I want you to be happy."

"Well, being chained in a basement isn't really that comfortable." I knew that arguing with him was probably not the best route. But if he valued me as much as he said he did, wouldn't he listen? I watched as he stood from that bed, fishing a key out of his pocket. "You're right," he said, unlocking the cuff around my ankle and tossing it to the floor. I got goosebumps as his fingers brushed over my ankle. "But you'll have to use the room down here for a few more days. The room upstairs hasn't been finished just yet. I'll even leave the door unlocked. And I'll trust you not to run off, okay?"

I nodded, and he leaned down. I half expected him to kiss me, but instead his lips pressed to my forehead. My eyes closed, and I felt my breath catch in my throat. How could something so wholesome feel so perfect? "Good night, my little nightingale." And, with that, he was walking back up the stairs. He'd passed the first test, though, and my trust in him grew just a bit. I also thought it was kind of cute how he called me a nightingale. A bird known for its beautiful song.

I stretched myself out on the bed, letting its soft embrace pull me into sleep. Damn. That man knew how to pick a bed, didn't he? The last thing I remember thinking about before I fell asleep was the feeling of his lips on my skin.